Millions of motorists risk being forced off the road - or to drive illegally - after major glitches in a new multi-million Government computer system left thousands of garages unable to issue valid MoT certificates.

Furious garages owners across Britain complained of ‘incompetence’ as they reported how the system had failed over recent days with some describing it as an ‘MoT meltdown’

Drivers are being turned away from garages because the new online system can’ t cope - first crashing completely and then running slowly – leaving their cars at risk of being without a valid certificate to be on the road, say garage owners.

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Motorists could be forced off the road because of a major 'technical issue' facing garages issuing MoT certs

The Government’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) blames a ‘technical issue’ for the chaos.

Under the new hi-tech system, cars which pass their regular Ministry of Transport (MoT) ‘roadworthiness’ test are logged electronically by the garage on a dedicated website using a normal household computer, smartphone iPad or tablet.

Once logged, this allows police who check a car’s licence plate – often using mobile squad car cameras – to know whether or not it is ‘street legal.’ Proof of a MoT test pass is also required when drivers tax their vehicle. But the system has failed because of a series of embarrassing software glitches.

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The problem has become so bad that garages have been asked by officials to revert as a ‘contingency’ to issuing old-style paper MoT certificates to drivers – in case they are stopped by the police - and then to manually re-send the results to the DVSA . But garage owners pointed out that sceptical police were unlikely to accept a flimsy piece of paper when their own computer system was showing the car in front of them as being unroadworthy.

Last year more than 29 million MoT tests were carried out.

The Government’s DVSA admitted there were ‘issues’ and said the problem is affecting an unknown number of the 16,000 out of 24,000 MoT testing stations which have moved over to the new system. The remaining 8,000 will switch over between now and September, it said.

Last year 29 million MoT test were carried out, but MoT testers say the current system is in 'meltdown'

The DVSA sent garages e-mail messages stating: ‘You currently won’t be able to use the new MOT testing service due to a technical issue. We’re working to fix this issue.’

The new MoT fiasco is the latest in a long line of Government IT crises in recent years.

A DVSA spokesman said last night: ’We are aware that there are issues and that some garages are having problems using the system. It is affecting areas across the country. ‘There are contingencies in place. But we are aware there are issues.’

Garage owner and former software consultant Richard James, who runs his family-owned garage DHM Services in Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales said the system hadn’t work properly since it was installed last Thursday: ’It’s in meltdown. They clearly haven’t tested the system properly before it went live, and it couldn’t cope. Someone at the DVSA needs their backside kicking.’ He had to away half his MoT customers – about 20 in total, he said.

‘Drivers risk being stopped by police for not having a MoT certificate, even if the car has passed,’ he said ‘The DVSA has a help desk. I couldn’t get through for three days. When I went round the houses and got to the accounts department they said: ’We’ve been absolutely bombarded The call centre can’t handle it.’ Enterprising Mr James also tried to ring the software company Kainos in London which is contracted to the Government provide the new system: ‘The switchboard told me it employed 700 people- but no-one in any department was free to take my call,’ he said.

The Driver Vehicle Standards Agency claimed there were 'contingency plans' in place to deal with the issue

Mr James also noticed that even when data under the new system was uploaded, the Government’s publicly accessible Vehicle Enquiry Service system does not register it: ’It is not flagging up any MoT passes from cars passed under the new system. That is concerning, especially if the tax disc authorities use this to check whether a car has a valid MoT.’

He also noticed mistakes in system when motorist bring in their car up to a month before expiry of their current certificate.

A Vauxhall Astra which he passed is still flagging up as having its certificate expire on September 15 this year, not 2016 next year.

Suffolk garage owner Howard Watts, who runs Riddelsdells Garage in Boxford - - the oldest in the country. He said: ’We have been having problems since last Thursday and just can't get the system to work.

‘It means that we are turning away regular customers who need an MoT – and they shouldn't be on the road without one. There have been problems with every new computer system they bring in.’

In Nottinghamshire, Anthony Marshall, 57 , of Long Eaton-based Marshall Garage said he could do 10 MOTs a day when busy but had managed only one: ‘I'm basically sat here waiting for the computer to work. It's cost us a fortune already and I'm sure it will cost us more before it's working properly. It's broken down every day since it was installed.’ ‘I'm filling out paper forms again, which we haven't had to do for years, probably over a decade."

Gary Stapleton, owner of RGS Motors in Langley Mill said: "It's been off and on all day. I've got ten cars in and I can't do any of them. They've been testing this system for two years and I can't comprehend the incompetence.’

Problems began when the Government’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) started using a so-called ‘Cloud-based’ system which uses the internet and special website apps to recording and managing MOT test results. It claims the service allows more flexibility for garages as it doesn't require specialist IT equipment and it can be used on everyday mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. It has also been designed to be quicker and easier to use, thanks to an improved design, they insist.

A DVSA spokesman added: ‘We are rolling the service out gradually over the summer to ensure we can address any issues during the transition phase. We will continue to update and improve the service in line with feedback from users.’

DVSA chief executive, Alastair Peoples, said: ‘There is a well-established contingency process in place and all garages can still carry out tests and issue MOT certificates. We are bringing in additional resource to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and are sorry for any inconvenience.’